Vitamin B12 Biofortification in Edible Plants: Opportunities and Limitations from Soil-Based to Controlled Cultivation Systems

Abstract Vitamin B12 is largely absent from edible plants, increasing the risk of deficiency as plant-based diets became more prevalent worldwide. This review summarizes current strategies for vitamin B12 biofortification in plants, including the use of organic fertilizers, biofertilizers, hydroponics, aeroponics, foliar applications, and seed-based approaches. It also examines soil dynamics, microbial interactions, and other factors that influence vitamin B12 uptake and accumulation. The success of plant biofortification depends not only on increasing vitamin B12 concentrations but also on its chemical form, bioavailability, and transfer into edible plant tissues.